Shelach in a Nutshell

The name of the Parshah, "Shelach," means "Send" and it is found in Numbers 13:2.

Moses sends twelve spies to the land of Canaan. Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig, to report on a lush and bountiful land. But ten of the spies warn that the inhabitants of the land are giants and warriors “more powerful than we”; only Caleb and Joshua insist that the land can be conquered, as G‑d has commanded.

The people weep that they’d rather return to Egypt. G‑d decrees that Israel’s entry into the land shall be delayed forty years, during which time that entire generation will die out in the desert. A group of remorseful Jews storm the mountain on the border of the land, and are routed by the Amalekites and Canaanites.

The laws of the nesachim (meal, wine and oil offerings) are given, as well as the mitzvah to consecrate a portion of the dough (challah) to G‑d when making bread. A man violates the Shabbat by gathering sticks, and is put to death. G‑d instructs to place fringes (tzitzit) on the four corners of our garments, so that we should remember to fulfill the mitzvot (divine commandments).

Learn: Shelach in Depth
Browse: Shelach Parshah Columnists
Prep: Devar Torah Q&A for Shelach
Read: Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play: Shelach Parshah Quiz

© Copyright, all rights reserved. The content on this page is provided by our content partner, Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org's copyright policy.

Join the Discussion

35 Comments

Newest

Oldest

Rick Altamonte Springs, FL via jewishgator.com June 28, 2024

Interesting that Moses seems to get God to “change His mind” in Numbers 14:11-20 by (1) telling God that He will “look bad” in people’s eyes if He kills all the people and also by (2) reminding God in Numbers 14:18 of promises He had made earlier (Exodus 34:6-7). Are there lessons here for us to use when we pray to God? Reply

David Goorevitch Toronto June 20, 2025

in response to Rick:

Maybe this —
We cannot pray to You, O God,
to banish war,
for You have filled the world
with paths to peace,
if only we would take them.

We cannot pray to You
to end starvation,
for there is food enough for all,
if only we would share it.

We cannot merely pray
for prejudice to cease,
for we might see
the good in all
that lies before our eyes,
if only we would use them.

We cannot merely pray
"Root out despair,"
for the spark of hope
already waits within the human heart,
for us to fan it into flame.

We must not ask of You, O God,
to take the task that You
have given us.
We cannot shirk,
we cannot flee away,
Avoiding obligation for ever.

Therefore we pray, O God,
for wisdom and will, for courage
to do and to become,
not only to look on
with helpless yearning
as though we had no strength.

For Your sake and ours
speedily and soon, let it be:
that our land may be safe,
that our lives may be blessed. Reply

Alexander Fort Lee, NJ June 21, 2025

in response to David Goorevitch:

Even if ‘we’ do all that, and we do do, but ‘they’ still don’t, it will remain a dream. Perhaps focus on them more. Reply

MichaelFerto Queens NYC June 21, 2024

...Seems like the atmosphere was very tense, after the great failure; of not going into the land.....At times like this, creatures are more careful; to not be overtly offending, in a difficult time......So we have a great lesson, of responsibility and respect; for the mixed emotions, being experienced by everyone....... Reply

Saundra Michigan June 5, 2021

From my very limited perspective, Numbers 15:32-36 seems to provide a hyperbolic example of the difference between the consequences of willful disobedience and simple negligence (witting vs unwitting) transgression. The sidebar story illustrates the gravity of willfully defying HaShem. The lack of detail appears to be intentional because of the preceding guidance concerning how to make restitution for sins committed wittingly and unwittingly. Reply

Lawrence Iowa June 11, 2021

in response to Saundra:

See Yehuda Shurpin link to "Sinning Against the Letter Vav"

"We are told that Zelophehad did what he did for a sanctification of the Divine Name, namely he gave up his life so that others—we included—could learn by his lesson."

"Zelophehad" means "first born".

What could "picking up sticks" allude to?

As a Christian I believe 'sticks" could allude to a "tree". Cursed be he who hangs upon a tree. Deut. 21.23 See Rashi.below

"For a hanging [human corpse] is a blasphemy of God: Heb. קִלְלַת אלֹהִים. This is a degradation of the [Divine] King in Whose image Man is created, and the Israelites are God’s children." Reply

Lawrence Iowa June 13, 2021

in response to Lawrence :

I know a Jewish man who healed a paralytic of 38 years.. He told him to "take up his bed/'sticks' and walk" though it was a Sabbath Day. He added to his problems by claiming his Father was G-d and told him to do it. It was during a Jewish Festival.

It seems like it could be a "midrash" for Numbers 15.32-6. Reply

Lawrence Iowa June 14, 2021

in response to Lawrence :

I googled "picking up sticks second sabbath?" and found "Sticks And Stoned
The person who gathered wood on Shabbat in Parashat Sh'lach violated the atmosphere of tranquility essential to the Sabbath.".

BY RABBI AVRAHAM FISCHER

"After the tragic incident of the scouts (Meraglim), as a consequence of which the generation of the Exodus is sentenced to live out the rest of its existence in the wilderness, we learn of the Mekoshesh, the one who collected wood on the Shabbat day:"

Could "Mekoshesh" allude to Moshiach? Isaac Mozeson in his book The Word expresses belief, that Hebrew is the original language in the Garden of Eden and root of all languages. He sees semantic connections in anagrams of Hebrew words. Emetology in etymology. Alef mem tav. Sometimes even in letters that sound similar.

He probably would see "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me" as based on Torah. Reply

Sharon Ben Shaul Abuja June 15, 2020

I see here that right from on set ,the ten of them had already planned to instigate the people against Moshe and that was why they carried the clustered grapes down to them even
though it was a difficult task.In the end HASHEM delivered the righteous and punished the wicked.We should be careful in the way and manner we attack those placed in authority so that what befell the wicked in this week parsha will not befall us.Shalom. Reply

Anonymous brooklyn June 25, 2019

Please note Calab and Yehoshua say " G-d is with us do not fear them" (14/9)
furthermore the Jews who went up the mountain were told by Moshe that G-d was not with them and they would be defeated. Moshe pleaded with Hashem not to destroy the nation and so He mitigated their punishment, pardon me for asking , but did you read the parsha or do you find G-d irrelevant? Reply

Michel June 6, 2018

I think so too. Reply

Darrell Robertson Durango via thejewishflame.com June 15, 2017

I could be way off and completely wrong, but I think the greater lesson is the activity in anticipation and preparation for Shabbat. We are to look forward to and desire Shabbat with such degree of desire that we spend time during the week to gather and prepare. "Death" is separation of the living and the dead. If we seek life with Shabbat at its center, we should not be separated. But I could be totally whacked. Reply

Lee Brookline, MA June 15, 2012

Wonderful Comments Thank you all for the thought-provoking comments and to Chabad.org for posting a great recap of Shelach! Shabbat Shalom to all! Reply

Tony London, England June 12, 2012

GIANTS What are the giants in the land today? Why has Israel been out of the land for so long? Why is there no peace in the land today? Reply

Ruth Dallas June 17, 2017

in response to Tony:

Hashem told us He was giving us the land. He already took us out of egypt with signs and wonders. The question is: why were we more afraid of the inhabitants of Canan than of Him?
He created heaven and earth and everything whithin. We failed to have faith. Simple as that.

Ruth Reply

Mary Storey lewisville via chabadofdallas.com June 14, 2021

in response to Tony:

has anyone ever gave any thought to the idea that the people recording these events exaggerated to some degree? Reply

Anonymous Los Angeles June 28, 2019

in response to Ruth:

Kol Hakavod Ruth! Short and to the point. Reply

Justin Ingram Seattle June 18, 2025

in response to Ruth:

I agree with you Ruth! Reply

Mary Storey lewisville via chabadofdallas.com June 14, 2021

in response to Anonymous:

Ruth,
saying more afraid of the people of Egypt than afraid of G.d, makes me think there is an element of fear of the 'Almighty' that I believe is prominent in many religions. I think we humans created this fear, rather than it coming from the deeds we think originate from G.d. Reply

Yehuda Shurpin for Chabad.org June 11, 2012

Re: Concerns If the man had gathered wood to warm a sick child or parent he would not have been punished. On the contrary, we are obligated to do all that is necessary to save life even if it means to desecrate the Shabbat.

While the Man was indeed punished for desecrating the shabbat, that is only part of the story, the Midrash relates that this Man was a praiseworthy individual and actually purposely desecrating the Shabbat with noble intentions, for more on this see: Would You Do Anything For Your Child? and Sinning Against the Letter Vav Reply

Lawrence Iowa May 31, 2021

in response to Yehuda Shurpin for Chabad.org:

Is there a concept of "Grace" in Judaism? See Habakkuk 2.4 and Rashi. A rabbi suggested this is summation of all commandments.

Could this be represented by Sabbath rest?

"4...his soul is not upright within him: His spirit is not satisfied within him, and he does not say, “What I have already acquired is enough.” Therefore, retribution shall come upon him.

but the righteous shall live by his faith: Jeconiah the king, whom this wicked man is destined to exile - his righteousness shall stand for him, and on the day this one is cast out of his grave, Evil-merodach shall raise Jehoiachin’s head and place his throne above the thrones of the kings." Reply

Lawrence Iowa June 4, 2021

in response to Yehuda Shurpin for Chabad.org:

I have recently been reading "2 Kings 3:27: G-d's Wrath on Israel's Sin" How does קֶצֶף in verse 27 relate to קָשַׁשׁ in Numbers 15.32?

"and there was great wrath: For their iniquities were remembered, that they too worship pagan deities and are not worthy of miracles." Rashi 2 Kings 3.27 Reply

Dr Jeffrey Hoos Woodbridge, CT June 10, 2012

Concerns What does it say about us as a Jewish people to kill a man, for a gathering of sticks.
What symbolism should we gather from this and what person, had to carry out this act upon another human being?
With death comes no chance that this person could be doing acts of kindness, and healing the world.
Who is to judge this man, I can only think, if he had to gather these sticks, to light a fire, to warm a sick child or parent.
I need to understand the lesson being taught here. Reply

Mary J. Storey lewisville via chabadofdallas.com June 26, 2019

in response to Dr Jeffrey Hoos :

I so agree with you, it makes me question much when I read that a man is to be killed for his act. I don't see a loving, merciful G...d when he requires such deeds/demands from his chosen people. Reply

Anonymous brooklyn July 1, 2019

in response to Dr Jeffrey Hoos :

Yhe Torah was and is a revolutionary document
the world at the time was pagan and feared nature
the Torah does not give details of the laws
the Oral Law (the Mishneh )was given to explain and expound the details.
What does it mean to work on the Sabbath?
What is the form and content of the Tefilin?
On what basis do courts pass judgment?
1) two eyewitnesses are needed
2) they had to have warned the person regarding his offence
circumstantial evidence was not accepted
The Sabbath is vital to the spiritual life of Judaism its desecration is the death of the nation. Reply

Likcre' Kenya June 20, 2020

in response to Mary J. Storey:

I think it's another way of saying that we shouldn't kindle any other fire within us except the fire of Love. Holding on to bitterness and unforgiveness is like gathering sticks to kindle a strange fire. Reply

Sheila Florida May 30, 2021

in response to Likcre':

That is so beautiful!! Reply

Mary storey via chabadofdallas.com June 11, 2021

in response to Likcre':

it is a beautiful symbolism, but does a life need to be taken to teach a lesson? I sometimes wonder, are the laws being followed out of fear of the consequences, or out of pure love of their creator. My image of G.d is not the image presented in the Old Testament. Can you love someone that your fear so? Reply

Mary Storey via chabadofdallas.com June 17, 2021

in response to Likcre':

So it is a 'parable' (teaching story) not an actual true act to a man gathering the sticks on the Sabbath? If people are teaching with these 'parables' do you not think they perceive G.d as a creator to be feared? rather than a loving , forgiving Creator. Can you love someone you fear so? Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org via chabadofdallas.com June 20, 2021

in response to Mary:

No, it is an actual event that occurred, with important lessons for us today. And just like a child is expected to both fear and love the parent, the same can be expected of our relationship with G-d. Reply

Mary Storey lewisville via chabadofdallas.com June 21, 2021

in response to Eliezer Zalmanov:

I don't want my 'child' to fear me, I want him to love and respect me. I don't believe that you can love someone you fear. Reply

Miriam June 29, 2024

in response to Mary Storey:

G-d is not “someone” Reply

BT Rappaport May 16, 2012

TO JAN As this is a quick summary, it doesn't tell the full story of the man gathering sticks and instead just mentions it. You could find a fuller explination in a less brief summary of the Parshah by clicking Parshah in Depth on the right side of this page. Reply

Gershon McGreevy via chabadlosfeliz.org June 19, 2011

To Jan These are all events that are recording in the Portion of Shelach. Reply

Jen via chabadlosfeliz.org June 18, 2011

Question A man violates the Shabbat by gathering sticks, and is put to death. What does this mean? How does the last paragraph relate to the article? Reply

Numbers 13:1–15:41

More in this section

Join the Discussion

Subscribe

Donate

More in this section

You may also be interested in...

Join the Discussion

Subscribe

Donate